THE EARLY LE DYNASTIES (980-1005)

Lê Hoàn (940-1005): When the Song Dynasty (Nhà T?ng in Vietnamese) menaced ??i C? Vi?t, with the heir to the throne an infant, the regent empress D??ng Thái H?u threw rule of the country to Lê Hoàn (940-1005). Lê Hoàn then proclaimed himself emperor Lê ??i Hành Hoàng ?? in 980. He then went with his general, Ph?m C? L??ng, to meet and battle the coming Song army. One of his victories was at the mouth of the B?ch ??ng River. After the victory, Lê ??i Hành sent out emissaries to negotiate for peace. Thus the annual show of homage, and offerings to the Celestial Emperor of China is resumed. With Lê ??i Hành, the southward expedition to Champa began in 990 and again in 994. Che Dong and Che Cai, the 2 successive Cham kings, negotiated with Lê ??i Hành for peace and agreed to be a Vietnamese vassal state.

Lê ??i Hành succession: Emperor Lê ??i Hành committed the same error as his predecessor ?inh Tiên Hoàng in that he repudiated his oldest son Lê Ngân Tích as heir to the throne. In his will, he gave preference to a younger son, Lê Long Vi?t. Lê ??i Hành died in 1005, at the age of 65 and after 25 years of rule.

Lê Long Vi?t, Lê Trung Tông (1005)

Lê Long Vi?t’s reign was very brief; he was assassinated by a coalition of his brothers Lê Ngân Tích, Lê Long Kính, and Lê Long ??nh who refused to recognize him out of jealousy. Lê Long Vi?t’s emperor-name was Lê Trung or (Trang) Tông. After the assassination, all three brothers vied against one another for one throne. Lê Ngân Tích was captured and beheaded while attempting to flee the country. Lê Long Kính “disappeared” and was never heard from again. The last remaining brother, Lê Long ??nh, took control of the realm and proclaimed himself emperor.

Lê Ng?a Tri?u (1005-1009)

Lê Long ??nh’s reign and court was famous for its “lying sessions” when presiding, giving reception, etc., earning him the name Lê Ng?a Tri?u. Lê Long ??nh’s rule was characterized by debaucheries, wild orgies and decadence. Historians compare him to the Roman Emperor Nero as he was well known for his cruelties, not the least of which were sadism and torture (of relatives, prisoners, thieves, beggars, traitors, etc.) in which he loved to participate. The only person under his rule who did not fear or run away from him was Lý Công U?n (973-1028), a high-ranking mandarin counselor in the court.

The rise of the Later Lý Dynasty (1009)

Never before in Vietnam’s history had an emperor’s rule been so hated as Lê Long ??nh’s. The people and peasants at that time were sick and tired of the cruelty which marked his rule. A few counselors and monks were plotting to install a new ruler. When Lê Long ??nh died he left an infant son who was to succeed him, but the court, now heavily under the influence of monks and Buddhism, agreed to enthrone Lý Công U?n as the new emperor. As the first emperor of the Lý Dynasty, Lý Công U?n would take the emperor-name Lý Thái T?, inaugurating a new era in Vietnam’s history.